Miraxonal atraction exercised by Biomphalaria tenagophila genetically selected for susceptibility

Abstract

The attraction of Schistosoma mansoni miracidea by snails genetically selected for susceptibility to infection is considered. Miracidea were exposed to snails or to snail conditioned water in a specially devised three-chamber glass apparatus. Ten miracidea were used for each test and were deposited in the middle chamber (a passage); after 15 minutes, them in each of the number of the three chambers were recorded. In one of the chambers, chosen randomly at each trial, either snails or SCW were used. The snails and the SCW were chosen from cither selected snails (highly susceptible) or unselected. The miracidea were of two groups: they came either from susceptible snails in previous generation or were of unselected traits. The results show that only snail generation has importance for the attraction: selectd molluscs of susceptible traits do attract the miracidea more.